Just about done. Emil Szkipala, also known as the Chainsaw Man of Michigan, heads toward his finished wood-carved sculpture in the once stately silver maple in Kari McGraw’s Farmington Hills yard. Kari McGraw

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A bear wouldn't do. Afterall, when was the last time anyone in Farmington or Farmington Hills saw a bear in the community? So, Kari McGraw decided it had to be a squirrel — one of the community's more plentiful creatures.

Today, in her front yard on Robinson stands a sculpture of squirrels, expertly created by wood carver Emil M. Szkipala — also known as the Chainsaw Man of Michigan — from the 10-feet or so remains of a once majestic silver maple that had been ravaged by one storm after another.

The tree, once a focal point of McGraw's front yard, had already been cut and trimmed considerably from the damage. But she wanted to repurpose the 150-year-old tree.

"It was one of the reasons I feel in love with the lot and also the neighborhood," said McGraw who moved into her home in 1998.

"It was the most beautiful tree," she said. "I tried to save it."

Then came the May 15 storm and the tree was so damaged, including one large limb that hung precariously over McGraw's garage. She knew that a family of raccoons also had been at one time living in the stately tree. But she had to make a decision. She didn't want the tree destroyed, so it was trimmed, leaving about a 10-foot base.

"I thought if it was not rotted, I want to memorialize the tree," McGraw said.

She found the Chainsaw Man of Michigan online and was amazed at what the native Romanian artist created with his carving skills. "I was doing hand-carved furniture there," Szkipala said, referring to his homeland.

He and his family moved to the U.S. in 1991 and with it the Romanian heritage of wood carving. "I keeps me busy all year," Szkipala, said adding he also has a carving in Shiawassee Park in Farmington.

On the recent Saturday that Szkipala arrived at McGraw's house, he was armed with the knowledge of the sculpture she had requested. But first things first. He had to trim what was left of the large 6-foot-diameter tree. "I am going after the good wood," he said. "Then I sketch it."

Accompanying Szkipala was his son, Stephan, who intends to follow in his dad's footsteps. While at McGraw's, Stephan practiced his skills creating an American eagle on wood his father trimmed off the large silver maple. "I've been doing this since I was 8 years old," Stephan said, as his father cut in and reminded him he will go to college first.

McGraw recalled the conversation when she finally reached Szkipala by phone. "I asked him if he could do a squirrel. He said, 'Squirrel? Heck, yeah. I do squirrels.'"

Sculpting the detailed squirrel wasn't a one-day effort. In fact, with every slice at the tree, Szkipala discovered something new, including a rope pulley in the tree's trunk.

A few days later — as the weather grew colder — Szkipala presented McGraw with not one, but two, sculpted squirrels with a decorative branch between them. The sculpture stands 8 feet tall and is a fitting memorial to McGraw's once-stately silver maple.

Although she expected only one squirrel, she loves what Szkipala created. "You hate to completely cut down a tree that's beautiful and been here for about 150 years," McGraw said.

He moved his family to the U.S. in 1991 and by 1993 partnered with the original Chainsaw Man of Michigan, Kenneth Bashell. In 1999, after Bashell's retirement, Szkipala became the one and only Chainsaw Man of Michigan in Sterling Heights.

Skzipala has shown his work that features a trademark style recognized throughout the country. His wood-carved sculptures are displayed in public area, private collections, back yards, gardens, golf coures and businesses in Michigan, California, New York, South Carolina, Ohion, Florida, Ohio, Canada and in Europe.

Skzipala often includes in his tree sculptures elements of his native folk art, as well as decorative and abstract wood carvings.